Many citizens are disillusioned and anxious as Cameroon prepares to vote this Sunday, with 92-year-old President Paul Biya seeking an unprecedented eighth term after more than four decades in power.
Distrust runs deep following the disqualification of main opposition leader Maurice Kamto, leaving voters questioning whether their participation will make a difference.
On the streets of Yaoundé, Correspondent Moki Kindzeka reports that many have yet to collect voter cards, a prerequisite to cast ballots, underscoring widespread scepticism in the electoral process. Observers say Biya’s control over the Elections Management Body and the underrepresentation of opposition candidates at polling stations reinforce the perception that the outcome is largely predetermined. Of the 33 000 polling stations nationwide, most will have only Biya’s representatives present.
Biya’s recent rally in Maroua promised improved security, youth employment, and infrastructure upgrades, but citizens remain unconvinced. Past pledges, including road construction and railway expansion, remain largely unfulfilled, prompting many to dismiss new promises as empty rhetoric.
The electorate has grown from 6 million in 2018 to 8.2 million, largely due to youth and women, initially motivated by hopes of Kamto’s candidacy and Biya stepping down. With Kamto barred, many are discouraged, though civil society groups and church leaders are urging voters to participate.
Security remains a major concern. In the Anglophone northwest and southwest regions, separatists have threatened polling, abducted residents, and chased away officials. The far north faces Boko Haram insurgency, while the eastern border sees rebel incursions from the Central African Republic. These threats could prevent safe voting for large numbers of citizens, as seen in 2018 when over 55% of registered voters stayed home.
–ChannelAfrica–
